What Are Grapes?

Grapes are a type of fruiting berry coming from a type of deciduous woody vine. They can be consumed raw or can be used to make wine, jam, fruit juice, jelly, raisins, vinegar, and desserts, and many other food and drink items. Grapes are a very popular fruit that comes in many unique varieties and offers an abunadance of important nutrients that benefits the entire body and aids overall health.

Grape Nutrition

Grapes are one of the healthiest fruits in the world due to its wide array of nutritional content. One serving of grapes, roughly 150-grams worth, contains, 5% DV of dietary fiber, 27% DV of vitamin C, 28% DV of vitamin K, 7% DV of thiamin, 10% DV of copper, 8% DV of potassium. 6% DV of vitamin B6, and 6% DV of riboflavin. One serving of grapes also contains 16.5-milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids and 60-milligrams omega-6 fatt acids.

Grape Benefits

Anti-Oxidants: Grapes contain many different types of anti-oxidants ranging from the common anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and manganese to more unique types of anti-oxidants like bete-carotene and resveratrol. Antioxidants are great are combating the often extensive damage that free-radicals cause to the body that occurs when the body's moecules become oxidized. This damage is often irreversible and leads to increased risks of disease such as cancer and type-2 diabetes. It is important to note that most of the antioxidants grapes have to offer are found in the skin, so it’s important to eat the grape as a whole.

Anti-Inflammatory: Studies show that grapes have anti-inflammatory benefits to our body. It has been shown that by consuming grapes daily the number of pro-inflammatory messaging molecules in the body decreases.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Grapes provide both anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits and together they work to keep the heart strong and healthy. Grapes protect the cells in our blood from possible oxygen damage. The anti-oxidant also keep the blood vessel linings healthy and strong. The anti-inflammatory benefits also protect the heart from getting many different types of heart diseases. Overall grapes are known to keep our heart strong and healthy, which is why red wine has been studied to be good for your heart health.

Glycemic Index Food: Grapes are a GI food and it’s valued at 45-53. The low GI value means that grapes can benefit blood sugar level. It has been studied and proven that grapes better balance our blood sugar levels and better insulin regulation in our body.

Anti-Cancer: Grapes are specifically known to help prevent colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. The main reason why grapes are helpful in the prevention of cancer is because of their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Chronic inflammations are one of the biggest factors in the development of cancer, so grapes decrease the inflammation of cells.

Other Benefits: Grapes are shown to have longevity and anti-aging benefits. This is due to the resveratrol found in grapes. Resveratrol have been shown to increase the expressions of three gene cells, which are connected to longevity. Grapes are also an excellent source of Vitamins C, A, K and B-Complex Vitamins. They are also a rich source of minerals, such as copper, iron and manganese. Grapes are also very low in calories making them a very healthy option, because you can consume many nutrients with little calorie intake.

Conclusions

Grapes are consumed and grown all over the world. They are delicious preserved, dried, or simply picked off the vein, making it an even more popular fruit. The best way to maximize your health benefits from grapes is to make sure to eat it whole(including skin) and possibly eating the seeded grapes, because seeds contain many nutrients. However regardless all types of grapes have amazing benefits to your body and would be a great fruit to include in your diet.